Maharashtra-Telangana Border Row: Elections To Deliver Verdict

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi will contest all elections in Maharashtra henceforth by showcasing the progress Telangana has made in nine years under Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, a minister of the southern state said on Friday.

Speaking to PTI, Telangana Minister for Forests and Environment Indrakaran Reddy said CM Rao will address a "joiners' meeting" in Nanded, some 280 kilometres from here, on February 5.

Mr Reddy, who is touring Nanded as part of preparations for the meet, said, "CM Rao will visit Sachkhand Gurdwara in Nanded, then address the joiners' meet and follow it up with a press conference on Sunday." "Telangana has progressed a lot in the past nine years. It shares a 974 kilometre border with Maharashtra and the difference in the development in villages in the two states is clearly visible. Maharashtra has Mumbai, which is the nation's financial capital. Why can't Maharashtra see the same kind of development as has taken place in Telangana," Mr Reddy asked.

Criticising the political leadership in Maharashtra for the lack of development, Mr Reddy claimed villages in his state were getting electricity and water round the clock, while those in Yavatmal were in the news for farmer suicides.

"The Bharat Rashtra Samithi will fight all polls here showcasing the development of Telangana. Our slogan will be 'ab ki baar, kisan sarkar'. We are not going to forge an alliance with any party in Maharashtra as of now," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)